Gregory Peck’s family auctions treasure-trove of memorabilia
Actor Gregory Peck passed away in 2003, just before the American Film Institute named his “To Kill a Mockingbird” character, Atticus Finch, the big screen’s greatest hero. The No. 2 hero was Indiana Jones and No. 3 was James Bond.
Peck’s youngest son, Anthony Peck, 66, says he was delighted that the hero was someone representing real life with courageous values rather than an action hero in a fantasy scenario.
That 2003 announcement would have meant the world to his father, known for portraying upstanding, honest, decent characters guided by a moral compass to do what wasn’t necessarily popular but was right.
It is that legacy that Anthony Peck and his sister, Cecilia Peck Voll, want to spotlight with the treasure-trove of Gregory and Veronique Peck memorabilia, photos, film scripts, clothing, awards and art that they have made available for online and live auction Thursday by Heritage Auctions’ Dallas office.
One of the top items is Peck’s leather-bound, photo-filled “To Kill a Mockingbird” screenplay. The auction also includes a 35th anniversary copy of the novel autographed by author Harper Lee.
“Harper Lee once said the role of Atticus Finch gave Gregory Peck the chance to play himself,” says Anthony, noting that his father embodied Finch in real life.
The Academy Awardwinning actor is best known in San Diego for co-founding the La Jolla Playhouse in 1947 with actors Mel Ferrer and Dorothy McGuire.
After being born and raised in La Jolla, where he attended La Jolla Grammar School and later San Diego High School downtown, Peck graduated from UC Berkeley. He then moved to New York to kick off his theatrical career, eventually heading back west to Los Angeles, where he found his niche in Hollywood films.
But Peck returned to La Jolla in summers to continue working with La Jolla Playhouse as artistic director and to support the acting community.
It was his way of giving back, Anthony says. “He wanted to help everywhere he was and everyone he could.”